SBP — which first made our list last year — is comprised of hose and accessories
distributor Singer Equities and Bishop Lifting Products. Late 2016 oil and gas market
stabilization helped offset earlier sales declines affecting certain operation in the
Gulf Coast. Don Fritzinger became company CEO last September after Otis Dufrene
retired. Most recently, SBP acquired Kilgore, TX-based Matex Wire Rope Inc. via
Bishop Lifting Products. Fritzinger says, “Operations experienced expansion in many
other geographic regions as a function of the broad end market business base and
its acquisition of Future Hydraulic in Montreal.”

R.S. Hughes’ 2016 ticked up nearly 2 percent, and the company says all business
regions are showing growth in 2017 after a flat 2016. President Pete Biocini says,
“We are continuing to invest heavily in our Mexico expansion, national account
program, safety specialists and our e-commerce and digital marketing initiatives.”

OTC has had a busy past year, making a series of acquisitions. In December of

2016 it added C&C Industrial Sales in Gallatin, TN and Midway Industrial Supply in
Minneapolis, MN; in January it acquired the Somerset, NJ branch of Argo International
Corp.; and in April it announced the acquisition of Akron, OH-based Tri-Power MPT.
The company’s 2016 sales improved 11. 2 percent, with organic sales up 5. 5 percent.

PTS maintains its spot from last year despite a slight dip in 2016 sales. President and
owner Larry Wolfe says, “The oil & natural gas sectors in U.S. & Canada affected
sales; while other sectors of the country remained strong. We will continue to
enhance and grow our online services.”

Wajax Industrial comprised approximately 31 percent of Wajax Corp.’s total 2016
sales, and had essentially identical revenue to a year earlier. Wajax reorganized
and consolidate its sales force during 2016 and implemented a new CRM system.
Through June 30 of 2017, Wajax Industrial Component’s sales were up 8. 2 percent
from a year earlier.

Employees: 2,200Border States is the first of two electrical distributors to make our list this year.Though best known for its electrical products offerings, its industrial divisionproduced $278 million in sales — well deserving of Big 50 consideration. Thecompany acquired Shealy Electrical Wholesalers in August, adding approximately350 employees across 17 branches in North and South Carolinas.www.sbpholdings.comwww.rshughes.comwww.otpnet.comwww.pts-tools.comwww.wajax-industrial-components.cawww.borderstates.com